chased leaders, ridden and beaten 2 out, weakened
led 1st, mistake 4th and 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on flat
held up towards rear, headway on inside after 4 out, led 2 out, driven out
chased leaders, close 3rd when not fluent 2 out, stayed on final 100 yards, went 2nd towards finish
held up in rear, headway on inside from 3 out, challenged last until 120 yards out, no extra towards finish
mid-division, took keen hold, not fluent 2nd, shaken up before 3 out, soon beaten
held up in rear, fell 3rd
led until 1st, chased leader, ridden and lost place 3 out, soon weakened
This is a very tricky finale in which it’s difficult to put a line through any of the eight runners, though Romeo Brown turned in a shocker when favourite at Wetherby after a solid return to action. Informateur won by 10 lengths at Uttoxeter but carries a penalty while Nebuchadnezzar is still winless. Turning Gold had a pipe-opener on the Flat in October but we’ll take a chance on BETTER GETALONG, who hasn’t won for a while but ran well here on his reappearance last season and is relatively lightly raced. True Romance remains unexposed but, along with Get Help, has some improving to do in this company while Kelso winner Newtown Boy weakened quickly at Wetherby last month.
Better Getalong (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) In touch, headway 5 out, led 3 out, soon chasing leaders, led 3 out, headed before next, weakening when blundered last, 5th of 12, 36 1/4l behind Crixus's Escape (10-8) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Turning Gold 20-1 (9-10) Led until over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 5th of 8, 13 3/4l behind Goshen (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Newtown Boy (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Chased leaders on inside, weakened before the last, 5th of 12, 10l behind Fransham (11-4) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Informateur (FR) 11-2 (11-11) In touch in mid-division, closed 6th, led 3 out, soon went clear, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Midnight Moss (11-7) by 10l, 9 ran.
True Romance (IRE) 11-4 (11-9) Raced keenly, held up, closer on inside at 4th, chased leaders led before 3 out, over 4 lengths ahead last, idled badly run-in, caught post, 2nd of 9, shd behind Goldencard (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Nebuchadnezzar (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 4 out, mistake next, headway approaching next, stayed on into 2nd, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 10l behind Totterdown (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Romeo Brown 3-1fav (11-4) Towards rear, weakened from 3 out, 14th of 15, dist behind Mr Scrumpy (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Get Help (IRE) 9-5fav (10-12) Led, reminder after 2nd, headed narrowly after 4 out, led again after next, ridden and headed between last 2, no impression when left 2nd briefly last, one pace, 3rd of 7, 9 1/2l behind Uncle Jonty (10-12) at Kelso 2m 7f (4) hvy in Nov.
